Latching device for crates



Aprifi m, 1951 gw. HARRZS LATCHING DEVICE FOR CRATES Filed March 14, 194-9 J grwe/wto'o C'fiar/ss ZZZ/742771 5,

h@ MMTZW Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCHING DEVICE FOR CRATES Charles Wesley Harris, Prescott, Arlz. Application March 14, 1949, Serial No. 81,304

1 Claim.

' This invention relates to new and useful im; provements in a latching device for crates or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a latching device for securing the cover to the body portion of a crate, which latching device when operated not only draws the cover into tight engagement with the body of the crate, but automatically remains in a locked position until the latch lever is manually operated for releasing the cover.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a face view of the latching device when in position for locking the cover to the crate body;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 with the latching device in locking position; and

Figure 3 is a view of a line 33 with the latch released preparatory to raising the cover.

The improved latching device is primarily employed for securing a cover to a crate body. The

crate body has cleats extending along the ends thereof and disposed so that the upper side of the cleat is on a line with the upper side of the body wall. This cleat is provided with a locking shoulder at the lower outer side thereof. The cover is dimensioned so as to extend over the cleat and terminates at the outer side of the cleat. The latching device includes a link which is pivotally secured to a bracket carried by the cover so that said link may swing from a vertical position beneath the bracket providing the pivotal connection to the cover to a vertical position above said pivotal connection. The link is in the form of two parallel legs connected by a cross bar. Pivoted intermediate its ends to the cross bar is a locking means. The latch has a hook at its lower end adapted to engage the shoulder, and at its upper end it is bent outwardly between the legs of the link when said latch is in locked position. The upper end of the locking lever is pivoted to this outwardly projecting portion at the upper end of the latch. By this arrangement, when the latch is connected to the crate body, it will draw the cover into tight contact with the body and the locking lever will be automatically retained in its locked position until it is manually released. I

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the crate body is indicated at l. Extending across the end of the crate body is a cleat 2, which cleat has a depending portion 3 forming a locking shoulder for the latching device. A metal ware plate 4 is preferably secured to the lower face of the shoulder 3.

The cleat at its upper side is flush with the top edge of the body wall and the cover 5 is dimensioned so as to extend to the outer face of the cleat and contacts with the cleat and the body wall.

Attached to the cover is a bracket 6. This bracket 6 overhangs the end of the cover and a link 1 is pivotally secured to the bracket. This link 1 includes legs 8, 8 and a cross bar 9. The inner ends of the legs 8, 8 are bent into alignment and extend through the loop end It] by a bracket 6 as indicated at 8*. This link is free to swing from a vertical position beneath the bracket and a vertical position above the bracket.

A locking lever H is formed preferably from a single piece of wire which is shaped so as to provide parallel legs l2, l2 and a cross bar l3 which connects the legs. The legs [2, l2 are looped about a cross bar 9 of the link I as indicated at l2 and at their inner ends these legs are bent at right angles and extend into the loop end M by a latch 15 as indicated at IT. The latch [5 at its lower end is bent so as to provide a hook it with an upturned end II. It is noted that the upper end of the latch I5 is bent at right angles and projects outwardly between the legs 8, 8 of the link I when the latch is in looking position as shown in Figure 2. In this position of the link and locking lever the pivotal connection of the upper end of the lever with the latch lies outside to a plane passing through the pivotal connection of the lever to the lower end of the link and the pivotal connection of the link to the bracket 6.

The cover is placed on the crate body and then the link lever and latch are moved so as to cause the hook end of the latch l5 to engage beneath the shoulder 3 on the crate body. When the locking lever is forced to the position shown in Figure 2, it will pull downward on the link and cause the cover to tightly engage the crate. Inasmuch as the pivotal connection with the latch passes this dead center plane the lever will automatically stay in its locked position, tightly holding the cover on the crate. When it is desired to remove the cover the lower end of the locking lever II is manually engaged and moved outward so that the pivotal connection with the latch moves to the other side of this dead center plane and this will release the latch from the shoulder and allow it to be swung upward as indicated in Figure 3.

Only one latching device has been referred to, but it is understood that there will be a similar latching device at the other end of the crate. It is understood the latching device, while described in connection withthe securing of a cover to a crate, may be used for other purposes, and that minor changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the invention defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A latching device for crates or the like comprising a bracket bent upon itself to provide a hinge loop, said bracket being adapted to be attached to the crate cover so that the hinge loop will project beyond the edge of the cover, a swinging link formed of a wire rod shaped so as to provide a cross bar parallel with the hinge" loop, and parallel supporting legs having the inner end portions thereof bent at right angles and extending into the hinge loop, a locking lever formed from a wire rod shaped so as to provide t. a cross bar and parallel legs, said legs being bent around the cross bar of the link for pivotally at: V

taching the lever to the link, the inner ends on said lever legs being bent inwardly into aligng0 Number being bent outwardly so as to extend between the legs of the link when said latching device is in looking position and having at the outer end of said bent portion a loop adapted to encircle the inwardly bent end portions of the legs of the locking lever for pivotally connecting the lever to the latch, the pivotal axis of the latch and lever being outside of a plane passing through the pivotal axis of the link to the cover and the pivotal axis of the link to the lever when said lever is in locking position.

CHARLES WESLEY HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 757,848 Steidl Apr. 19, 1904 1,691,833 Vosburg Nov. 13, 1928 2,096,098 Fraysur Oct. 19, 1937 

